Children’s Worship: Children’s worship helps children ages 3 through 2nd grade explore Bible units through hands-on, age appropriate, experiential activities that are designed to engage them while also instilling faith formation. We meet upstairs almost every Sunday following the Time with Children. Today there will not be a Children’s Worship. Next week’s story is Rejoice and Ponder - Luke 2:8-20 (Help children explore different ways to celebrate grace, which is a love bigger than we can imagine.)

Upwards is a learning experience for 3rd through 5th graders that alternates weekly between meeting as a group and a clipboard activity. Growing in Grace and Gratitude is this year’s theme. This week will be a group activity upstairs. If you have any questions, ask Kelly McConnell at ebpcyouth@comcast.net.

Welcome to East Brentwood

To Our Members: East Brentwood gladly welcomes first-time and returning visitors. By introducing yourself and sharing a warm greeting, you express the hospitality of our congregation. Please share a smile and welcoming word to those around you.

To Our Guests: We offer education and fellowship opportunities in the mornings and evenings for children, youth and adults. Please see the Calendar of Events for dates and times. Interested in joining East Brentwood? Speak to John Hilley or Ashley Purcell.

East Brentwood Presbyterian Church is a community church made up of a loving, welcoming family of believers in honest conversation with God. We seek to emulate the ministry of Jesus through compassionate service, with stimulating and relevant exploration of God’s Word, and by sharing that Word and God’s many blessings with our neighbors in Middle Tennessee and around the world.

Announcements

Red Cross Blood Drive: The blood drive is scheduled for TODAY at the church until 12:30. During the holiday season, there is, unfortunately, an increased need for blood. Please consider giving this morning by going down the hall of the preschool wing to the first classroom on your left.

Be Still and Look… for Hope… for Love… for Joy and… for PeaceThis is the last week for our Advent-based community art project! Our final theme is PEACE. We hope everyone will come on this final Sunday. Here’s how you can participate:

·Come before the service, as early as 9:30, or stay after the service in the classroom across from the office and add something to the collage.

·You can use the materials we already have on hand or feel free to bring in print material of your own (pictures/phrases/words from magazines, newspapers, Google, Pinterest, etc.) that speak to our themes: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. This week is PEACE.

Just as God revealed his love for us on Christmas Eve with the birth of his Son, we will see the results of our joint focus and creation when the final piece is revealed on Christmas Eve.

Calendar Events Coming This Week ~ At a Glance

Sunday, December 20

9:00 am Adult Education

10:00 am Worship

Monday, December 21

9:00 am Preschool Closed for Christmas Break

11:00 am NO Staff Meeting

Wednesday, December 23

NO WELL this week, will return January 13th

Thursday, December 24

5:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Friday, December 25

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 27

10:00 am Worship

Praise and Prayers

† Prayers for Kelly Rakow, a business associate of Susan Schellhardt, who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor.

† Prayers for Laurie Byers’s husband and his family as he has started chemo for pancreatic cancer. Laurie is a teacher at the EBPC Preschool.

†Prayers for those to whom this time of year is very difficult.

† Prayers for Karen Owens Holloway and her husband David with her cancer diagnosis.

† Prayers for Darin and Philip Lashinsky for the sudden loss of wife and mother Darcy Miller Lashinsky.

† Prayers for those affected by the violence in our world.

†Prayers of thanksgiving for our preschool teachers and staff and for the children who attend.

† Prayers for Marilyn Johnson, who is at Southerland.

† Continued prayers for recovery and healing for Lily Paris and praise for the progress she has made recently.

† Prayers for Sam, Susan, and Annie Paris as they walk with Lily through this journey.

† Prayers for Carol Dison (Liz Beatty's cousin) and her two-year old granddaughter, Avery. Carol was diagnosed with cervical cancer and needs prayers for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

† Prayers for all whose road to recovery seems long.

† Prayers for refugees in Europe.

†Prayers for caregivers of family members and for the unspoken burdens and worries loved ones are facing.

If you have a prayer request or celebration that you would like to share, please contact Ralph Comer, Congregational Care moderator

by email: recomer49@aol.com or phone: 615.545.5938.

Please join us for Christmas Eve!

We will be having a candlelight service at 5 pm. Please come early because there is only one service this year. This is a great way as a family to focus upon the gifts of God for us and the importance of Christmas.

The EBPC kids will be signing a song they learned in preschool called "Happy Birthday, Jesus" during the Christmas Eve worship service at 5 p.m. We invite all church members and preschool families to attend this service and take part in this special event!

Please join us in thanking the following members for sharing their gifts and making our Worship service more meaningful!

EBPC

East Brentwood Presbyterian Church is a community church made up of a loving, welcoming family of believers in honest conversation with God. We seek to emulate the ministry of Jesus through compassionate service, with stimulating and relevant exploration of God’s Word, and by sharing that Word and God’s many blessings with our neighbors in Middle Tennessee and around the world.